Project 333: The Minimalist Wardrobe Challenge You’ll Love

Do you have way too many clothes in your closet? Want a more minimalist wardrobe? Try Project 333 to help slim down your wardrobe!

I don’t know about you guys, but for someone who wears practically the same outfits every week, I have a ton of clothes! I have pieces I maybe wear once a year, and some I can’t even remember the last time I wore, but they somehow make it through my closet cleanses. I’ve seen so many capsule wardrobe planners and blogs and ideas and honestly the idea of taking my entire wardrobe, shoes, scarves, and all, to like 30 to 50 items for the entire year is daunting and terrifying. Hello, this is Texas. A few days ago it was raining and 40 degrees. Today? It’s 80. A capsule wardrobe sounds great, but they don’t seem practical for this type of weather. Then, I found Project 333.

Project 333 is the only minimalist wardrobe style that I found that doesn’t limit you. It doesn’t tell you to get rid of everything you own and only keep a few wardrobe items. Nope, this one is different. Started in 2010 by blogger and mom Courtney from Be More with Less, she challenged herself to cut down her wardrobe slowly with a test. She picked 33 items (not counting undergarments, socks, workout gear, pajamas, and jewelry worn every day) and everything else in her closet she boxed up. Did you hear that? She didn’t get rid of everything else. She just put it out of sight! For 3 months, she wore only those 33 items. Crazy, I know, but totally doable!

After 3 months, she opened up her boxes and looked to see if anything she had not worn could be donated. Then, she went through and took out items in her 33 that wouldn’t work for the upcoming season, and added in items to her new minimalist style wardrobe that would. Because, you might have guessed, Project 333 is perfect for creating a minimalistic wardrobe for each of the seasons. The winter coat you use in your winter wardrobe is not needed in the summer; shorts are terrible in the winter. So, with this project, you can essentially create 4 wardrobes that overlap base items. You end up with some great practical outfits, and still have that minimalist capsule wardrobe people love. It’s just more customizable for those of us who live in places with crazy seasons.

So, after swapping out items and creating your next season’s 33 item minimum wardrobe, you box up the items you just wore separately (that aren’t in this coming season’s wardrobe) in their own season box for ease of finding them next year. Don’t forget to label it! Then, you begin the next 3 months. After that’s over, well I think you get the message. Repeat this for the entire year.

After the year is up, when you get back to the season you started with, you should be able to create a minimalist wardrobe list for your area’s 4 seasons. Totally customized to your style and your location! Love it! Anything else you own you can either donate, or see if you can or want to bring it into your current wardrobe. Cool, right?

That’s how I got hooked. With the crazy seasons we get in Texas, I could never have imagined using any other minimalist closet program. This way, I still get to keep the extra items I use in different seasons, they’re just out of sight and out of mind for the other 3 seasons! Plus, there is so much freedom in it, because Project 333 isn’t about restricting you to only wearing a few pieces of clothing like most minimalist capsule programs.

I don’t know about you, but a lot of the time those must have capsule wardrobe items are not things I wear at all, so they never worked for me. Project 333, however, was made to be an easy and helpful way for you to get rid of what you don’t need by letting you figure out for yourself what you can and can’t live without. It’s all based on you, your style, and your climate. I really love that part!

If you are interested and want to know more, or if you are still hesitant at the thought of getting rid of stuff you might love, remember: this project is not about immediately cutting down your closet to 33 items. You can start with more clothes for the 3 months if you need to, and that’s okay!

At the end of the 3 months though, look at what you actually wore. If you didn’t wear some of the items, make a note of it and put them in a separate box (still labeled for that season). You don’t have to get rid of anything you own right off the bat (unless you want to). Courtney has some great printables on her page to help you out! And remember, this is supposed to be fun and empowering, not restricting and stressful!

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So, what do you guys think about Project 333? Would you be interested in trying it? I love the fact that it’s so easy to start. And, you can begin anytime! There are some super simple ways to get started, and even more challenging ideas for those who have been doing Project 333 for several years. If you’re interested, or have done it before, let me know in the comments below! Share this post with all your friends and family who are looking at how to live with less clothes, and as always, stay creative, my friends!

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Hey there! I’m Julie. I am an aspiring author, a lover of tea and coffee, and a full on craft-er. I’m a self-proclaimed nerd with a tendency to make really bad puns and a love of travel. I think that’s about it!

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